Correia, LeBlanc appear in loss

Although both struggled late in August, Correia and LeBlanc helped pitch to the Padres to first in the National League West.

But over the past 2 1/2 weeks, both had been virtually idle.

Then Friday night, both appeared in the same game as Mat Latos lasted just 1 1/3 innings in both the worst and shortest outing of his young career.

Correia entered the game in the second in relief of Latos and gave up one hit (allowing the eighth run charged to Latos to score) and a walk in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

LeBlanc followed Correia and allowed one run (a solo homer by Matt Holliday) on four hits over two innings.

Until Friday night, LeBlanc hadn't appeared in a game since giving up six runs on six hits in three innings at Arizona on Aug. 30. He was 1-2 over his last three starts while giving up 16 runs in 13 innings.

And Correia had made one previous, three-inning relief appearance since his most recent start on Aug. 31. He was 0-3 in his last three starts and gave up 20 runs in 12 innings.

"I'm a little surprised at what has happened," said LeBlanc, who was 8-12 with a 4.15 earned run average in 25 starts.

"It's a weird situation to go from being relied on every fifth day to not pitching at all. It feels like being exiled. I know it's not, but it almost feels like punishment. They told me they were going to have me skip a start and I haven't heard much since."

Correia also said he has been told little since his last start.

"I almost feel like I'm on the sidelines watching," said Correia, "Right now, I'm not in the situation where I can help the team win games which is hard for me. I want this team to win."

Correia admitted this has been a difficult season on (10-10, 5.40 ERA) and off the field (the death of his younger brother Trevor in a hiking fall last May).

"Last season (12-11, 3.91 ERA in 33 starts) boosted my career and I wanted to build on that," said Correia. "But I go hot-and-cold for a team that's winning, which was disappointing. Still, I always thought I was going to get hot and it didn't happen the way I expected."

A San Diego native, the 30-year-old Correia knows his second season is his last as a Padre. He made $3.6 million this season in his final year of control and becomes a free agent at the end of the World Series.

"This is what kind of what happened to me in San Francisco," said Correia. "The Giants had a lot of young pitchers come along and decided they didn't need me. There isn't much future for me here, obviously.

"Wade is in a different situation. I thought he had a great year. He's still young (26). I think he has to be in the Padres future plans."

Neither pitcher said they were looking very far ahead, however.

"There's not a lot I can do about when they ask me, but I'm ready for whatever role if they need me," said LeBlanc. "I'm not following my mid-start routine right now because I'm in the bullpen."

"It's probably a little easier for me because I've been in the bullpen before with the Giants," said Correia. "But it's not easy, it's never going to be easy."

Correia was a victim of the case of 24-hour flu that Latos developed on Sept. 6. Latos was scratched that night for Tim Stauffer. Correia had originally been scheduled to start Sept. 7, but Latos worked that night and beat the Dodgers.

Cory Luebke (1-1, 4.60 ERA) moved into LeBlanc's slot with Chris Young starting there Saturday afternoon. Stauffer is 1-1 with a 3.00 in his three September starts.

*breaker Gwynn swings

Tony Gwynn appeared as a hitter Friday night for the first time since having surgery Aug. 19 to remove the fractured tip of the hook of the hamate bone in his right wrist.